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Way Back When

(The Spirit is pleased to share with our readers vignettes of life in the 19th century as originally reported in past issues of the newspapers. These reproduced stories include their original headlines and spelling.)

Local Intelligence
(January 29, 1896)
Sued the Township for Damages

On Monday, January 13, P.S. Smith, of Canoe township, brought a suit in trespass for the sum of ten dollars against the Bell township school board for refusing to admit his children to the public schools.

There had been diphtheria in Mr. Smith’s family and the directors notified the teacher not to admit Smith’s children until further notice, and as such notice was not given for some time, action was brought before ‘Squire Lowry. The ‘Squire gave his decision last Thursday by dismissing the case for want of jurisdiction, plaintiff to pay costs of suit.
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A Golden Wedding

On Monday night of last week Mr. and Mrs. N. B. Lane of Lane’s Mills, celebrated their golden wedding. About 450 guests were present, and it was one of the happiest occasions of this kind that has ever taken place in this county. Mr. Lane has hosts of friends and neighbors who admire his sterling manhood, and who are eager at all times to do his honor. Numerous interesting talks were indulged in after supper, tending to throw some light on the manly character of Mr. Lane.

During one of these talks it came out that Mr. Lane, who is now in very comfortable circumstances, was once in danger of failing financially.

Some friends suggested that he take the benefit of the bankrupt law.

“I would rather go to the poor house,” said Mr. Lane emphatically, “than to cheat my creditors out of a single cent.” That settled it.

Mr. Lane soon got on his feet again, preserving his self-respect and giving his friends increased confidence in his integrity.

Among those who made nice little talks was Judge William P. Jenks, of Brookville. At the close of his speech Judge Jenks presented Mr. Lane with a gold coin of the mintage of 1846, the year of the latter’s marriage, remarking that it was typical of the sterling character of the recipient.

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(February 5, 1896)

The merchants of this town have been annoyed considerably of late by a class of persons known as shop-lifters, who take odd articles of merchandise in a surreptitious manner without leaving an equivalent. This is a very reprehensible practice, and one that should be discouraged.

The merchants have taken measures to break up this practice by employing persons to watch, and if there is any more work of this kind somebody is likely to get into trouble.